The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1887-02-19
oaow,mo FOREST TREES.

-1nAsssstaae uxpssimsats 11sae . -
Miekissa Asrisaltaraa College
4 recent report from Prof. Beaie. O
The Agricultural College Of Michigan
contains valuable lessons on the grow
ing Of forest trees. After an expert
ence in the college arboretum, begin!
ming with the summer OF 1875. Frof
Beale Is Of the opinion that until . per
son begins to plant and cultivate tree
and shrubs, as there attempted, b.
does not realize how little any one II
this country knows about the best sort
to select and how to treat them from
the seeds to mature trees. For want o.
information, mistakes have been made
but even these mistakes often teach Al
much as successes. Whether Michigan
men ever grow forest trees for profit OF
not, the information acquired in grow.
ing an aboretum has been the means Of
hepling to answer many inquiries.
Hardness Of a tree depends. accord
ing to Prof. Beale, on many things, al
elevation, soil, drainage, exposure,
cultivation, rapidly Of growth. whether
crowded or grown with plenty OF room,
the nature Of the summers, springs and
winters, Or any one or all of these. and
doubtless on still other conditions.
During the winter Of 1856, which
was as cold as any in twenty years-3s
degrees +. below zcro-thrifty sprouts
of magnolia umbrella remained alive
to the terminal bud, while these mag
nolias usually, even in mild winters,
die to the snow line, This the pro-
lessor considers to be perhaps owing to
the fact that there was plenty of moist
ure in the soil or little wind, or no sum
shine during the freezing period, or for
ONE reason not yet understood. For
six years a number Of trees of tho
American persimmon died every winter
to the ground. From this Prof.
Beale supposed himself warranted in
pronouncing this well-known tree as
tender in Central Michigan. Two years
ago he CHANGED to visit a garden OF
high clay land, less than ten miles dis
tant, where young trees Of the same
kind were healthy and hardy, and had
borne fruit two seasons in succession.
Other instances Of similar nature could
be given.
Prof. Beale describes the method Of
growing trees in the arboretum as
In starting trees, the seeds
usually planted when freshly
gathered, just where the trees we're to
The rows were four feet apart
md ran north and south. For five or
Tx years, and in some cases more, they
regularly cultivated, like a
ield of corn, till about the mid
lie of August. A very little trimming
lad been done by way Of removing
lead limbs and preventing bad
After the trees had got a
,ood start and shaded the ground pretty
veil, cultivation generally ceased,
IS it seemed as though they would take
are of themselves; but June grass
nd some other grasses and weeds soon
rept in and partially occupied the
apparently retarding consider
bly, the growth of the trees. The
and weeds that seem to do most
arm are capable of growing late in
utumn and early in spring, while there
no foliage or the trees to shade the
round or plants below.
Trees, where slightly crowded,
a marked difference in holding
heir leaves. White oak, swamp white
ak, beech, sugar maple, dogwood,
azel, blue beech, choke berries and
oplars hold their lower leaves well.
White pine, arbof vita, red cedar and
spruce do the same.
To save the expense of cultivation
fter few years and to keep out grass.
rof. Beale states that we need to know
lie best nurses, /. e., the trees, shrubs
r herbs which hold their leaves we'll in
lie shade. For this purpose he has
lade complete list of the broad-leaved
ndergrowth Of the arborctum, includ.
lg some sixty species. Some of those
their leaves best are black-cn,
'spberries, common milkwccd,
psmodium, celandine, wild asters,
Dlden-rods, g%rspe-vines, seedlings Of
ANY trees or shrubs-such as black
Jerry, American elm, butternut, low
FLOWS. catalpas, birchcs and box
ders.- Y. World
Saw.Oust Bedding for Cows.